Alesis Q49 MKII - 49 Key USB MIDI Keyboard Controller with Full Size Velocity Sensitive Synth Action Keys and Music Production Software Included

I have an iPhone SE (1st gen) and Windows 10 PC. It works with those devices for sure. When it comes to Android devices, it's gonna be a hit or miss. I can only speak for the devices that I do actually have. If you took a chance on an Android that works, please share your experience.Moto Z Play, Android 8.0 - does NOT work. It doesn't even power up the keyboard. Tried with an OTG with power input and still doesn't work.Walmart ONN 10” tablet, Android 9 Go - device recognized, but practically unusable. The tablet/apps recognize the device. BUT! The latency is pretty bad. Also, some keys get "stuck". I'm guessing the processor/hardware is just too slow.ATT Radiant Core U304AA, Android 9 - device recognized, but practically unusable. Got this phone from ATT as a free upgrade because of their network updates. Again, this seems more like incapable hardware, not incapable OS. Latency is unnoticeable, but the sound eventually starts crackling like the CPU is overloading.Moto E5 Play, Android 8 - surprisingly WORKS perfectly. This was just an ATT prepaid phone off the shelf. It is able to power up the device, the OS and apps recognize it, latency is unnoticeable. It seems that the hardware is very capable to provide very stable performance. Only caveat is to set the display to stay on for as long as possible. Even with battery optimization turned off, my MIDI app seems to go to sleep with the screen is off and when it's in background.So, it is a bit unpredictable. Why the Moto Z Play, which is a much better phone than the Moto E5 Play, doesn't work...I don't know. It would be difficult to lay out minimum requirements in that context. So, I can understand why Alesis just doesn't want to even mention it.

Great little full-size 88, so easy to take to gigs, and does most everything I’d want it to. Amazing for the price!! Easy delivery.Something is funky with the way the expression pedal (you can set it to different midi channels- I set it to Soft) works with Mainstage. I’m trying to use it to change patches. So my workaround is plugging the sustain into expression (second jack) and the secondary pedal into sustain. And assigning them opposite, basically. However, then if I press both pedals at the same time, notes get stuck on. Not a big deal, it still works perfectly as long as I don’t press both at the same time, and it’s a very specific and sort of uncommon thing I’m trying to do with two sustain pedals- one being used as a patch change.I use it at most of my gigs now!!

Great feel, keys were what I was worried about... but when I received it I was relieved to be happy that the keybed felt so good. Overall great keyboard, besides the button mapping (not considering the wheel, pitchbend or volume slider) I just couldn't figure out how to use it, and I use custom-programmed TouchPads in my studio for things that include those functions anyways, the keyboard I used before I didn't use these buttons, but I still wanted that keyboard button functionality for once, just because. The User Manual is very much not a helpful one when it comes to mapping, it does not describe which command refers to which button and so forth. The listing above the keybed does clearly state the wheel and fader commands but not the transport, record -and-so-forth buttons. Really had to play around with it just to understand the sliders. I know THOSE work atleast. The octave buttons work great as well. I cannot find videos anywhere by Alesis or in general about how to map these buttons however so I gave up on the record and transport buttons.Composition feels great, it is plastic but DEFINITELY not cheap plastic. It feels great really.The keyboard comes with a plastic adhesive that sticks to all the keys at once, just peel it off ofcourse, but I did find it left a very squeaky feel to the keys for like 6 hours of playing before they began to feel normal but whatever it feels great now. Just a packaging precaution is all that it was.I like that there is Pro Tools First included, and additional software. That's super cool I guess.Look, if you want a good keybed, well functioning and nice feeling faders (wheel, pitchbend, volume) and nothing else really matters, I would recommend. Had to subtract a star for programming. It is just plug and play magic, and I'm happy. There are not a lot of informative reviews, not only is Alesis a smaller company, but this is a newer product, hence the little discussion and reviews. So I tried my best to give you the gist of it.

I considered this and the identical m-audio model and upon reading the reviews there was a lot of concern brought to the fact that the m-audio seems to be very finicky to get working power wise, like it demands more than the 5v than usb gives or something?No such issue with this keyboard, I even have it running through a non-powered usb hub that also has my mouse and its perfect. Size is perfect, see the comparison above next to my (already small) apple magic keyboard 2. Lovely keyboard, keys feel nice, plugged and play'd with garageband immediately. Possibly the best 60 bucks i ever spent music-wise?

A very simple product. Good 88 key controller with decent action. At this price point you are most likely going to get lightweight action at best, not fully weighted, but the lightweight action also works well for percussion parts, organ, etc. Portable, feels solid not cheap.

I have been learning to play music with this thing and it seems to be doing the trick. I can now make sounds that almost resemble music lol. Its very well constructed seems durable and made with good materials. The keys are very responsive. I love the pressure sensitive keys as it makes the sound more intense or softer with the amount of pressure used. I love the size for its portability. Oh and all the free software available for different instruments and effects is amazing. So many plugins available. I am pleased with this purchase and it didn't break the bank.